Some thoughts on Arthur Young's Hertfordshire

Arthur Young who was at one time Secretary to the Board of Agriculture wrote several reports on the state of farming in England. One of the better and more reliable of these is the one on Hertfordshire where, at one time, he owned a farm in  North Mymms.

The aim of these reports was to seek ways to improve farming methods and production and to take note of any existing practices, which could be used in other areas. The report on Hertfordshire covers tenancy arrangements and farming methods generally. The effects, difficulties and costs of enclosure are also considered. However the report is also a social document, which notes the ever-increasing plight of the rural poor and the attitude of many farmers to their condition. First published in 1804, it provides a valuable insight into rural life in the County in the very early years of the nineteenth century.

If you would like to know more about Arthur Young’s report, read more in the document attached.